REDHEAD DUCK

The redhead duck is a migratory bird that lives in lakes, ponds and marshes. It is a good diver and feeds primarily on aquatic plants and mollusks on the lake bottom, but sometimes also on insects at the water surface.

The redhead duck has very tasty meat. Because the redheads mainly feed on vegetative matter, their meat does not have the fish taste that many other water fowls have. The biggest threat to the redhead duck is hunting. Another danger to the is lead poisoning. Since redhead ducks are bottom-feeders they are prone to ingest lead pellets discarded from shotgun shells, causing deadly lead poisoning. They are also susceptible to bird viruses.

Photo taken at Lake Gregory.

Photographer: Mary Barrie

Links to more information:

All About Birds

Animal Diversity

Lead Poisoning in Water Fowl